BALKANS ROUTE 2027

Report to Panama City International Airport 3 hours before departure to board transatlantic flight TK-904 at 22:00 hrs bound for Bucharest, connecting through Istanbul. Overnight on board.

Arrival in Bucharest, capital of the Republic of Romania. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

Breakfast. The city of Bucharest took shape in the Middle Ages around a copper market ("bakr" in the local language of that era), which was held several times a year at this site, on the banks of the Dâmbovița River. By the 15th century, Bucharest was already an important fortified city for the entire region. During our panoramic city tour we will see the beautiful Monastery of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, built next to an inn that was meant to support it. We will also see the Palace of the Romanian Parliament, the largest parliamentary building in the world, the Arch of Triumph, and other beautiful and curious structures of the Romanian capital. Accommodation.

Optional excursion: Transylvania, the Path of Dracula

Transylvania, meaning "beyond the forests" in Latin, is a Romanian region nestled in the Carpathians, rich in history and cultural treasures. We will visit Bran Castle, which rises like an eagle's nest on the edge of a cliff. The castle is steeped in tales of wars, defeats, victories, and... vampires, beginning with the infamous Count Dracula. Built of wood in 1212, the castle was destroyed by the Mongols in 1242 and rebuilt in stone in 1377.

Breakfast. We head to the city of Sofia, the capital and largest city of the Republic of Bulgaria. Upon arrival, we take a tour of the city. As one of the oldest cities in the world, Sofia has three levels: today's life takes place on the third level, where we will see the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the central square, the buildings of the National Gallery, the National Theatre, and the Banya Bashi Mosque. We will also visit the second level of the city, where the Roman and medieval ruins are located. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Free day for personal activities or to take an optional excursion. Accommodation.

Optional excursion: Plovdiv

The city of Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria and one of the oldest cities in the world. We take a tour of Plovdiv's old town, enjoying monuments from times past from antiquity to the present day, including a Roman Theatre, a medieval mosque, and 18th- and 19th-century architecture. We will have free time to have lunch at one of the picturesque local restaurants.

Optional excursion: Dinner with a traditional Bulgarian folk dance show

We will visit one of the city's most famous traditional restaurants, with a typical Bulgarian menu, music, and folk dances.

Breakfast. We head to the city of Skopje, the capital of the Republic of North Macedonia. Upon arrival, we take a panoramic tour of this picturesque city situated on the banks of the Vardar River, during which we will see the Macedonia Gate, Macedonia Square, the sculpture of Alexander the Great near the Vardar River, and we will continue across the Stone Bridge toward the Archaeological Museum buildings, the Mustafa Pasha Mosque, the Mother Teresa Memorial House, the old Turkish bazaar, and the Skopje Fortress. Accommodation.

Optional excursion: Matka Canyon

Matka is a canyon located west of Skopje, with an area of 5,000 hectares, and is one of the most popular destinations in the Republic of North Macedonia. Here one enjoys not only the unique beauty of the local nature but also the harmony between nature and human construction achieved by the medieval masters who built several monasteries in the area.

Optional excursion: Dinner and Macedonian dance show

Dinner at one of the city's traditional restaurants; here we will eat traditional Macedonian food and watch folk music and dance performances.

Breakfast. Free day for personal activities or to take an optional excursion to the cities of Pristina and Prizren. Accommodation.

Optional excursion: Republic of Kosovo

Pristina is the capital of the Republic of Kosovo, which declared its independence on February 17, 2008. With its pedestrian streets reflecting the spirit of the socialist era, we will visit the Imperial Mosque, built by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror in the mid-15th century, the National Library, the Clock Tower, and other important monuments. We will continue on to Prizren, the second-largest city in Kosovo. We will see monuments from the Ottoman period such as the Sinan Pasha Mosque, the Stone Bridge, and the Turkish Bath. At the end of our tour, we will return to Skopje.

Breakfast. We set off for the ancient and very picturesque city of Ohrid, situated on the shores of Lake Ohrid. The city is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. During our tour of the old town we will see the Lower Gate, the ancient theatre, the Church of St. Sophia, the fortress, and the Ali Pasha Mosque. Free time to take an optional tour to the Monastery of St. Naum. Accommodation.

Optional excursion: Boat ride on Lake Ohrid

The boat ride across Lake Ohrid offers a wonderful view of the medieval and modern buildings along the coast.

Optional excursion: Monastery of St. Naum

The Monastery of St. Naum, with exquisite external decoration, sits on the shores of Lake Ohrid, high atop a rock. The monastery is named after its founder, St. Naum, a medieval Bulgarian writer, educator, and teacher. The walls of the monastery church are covered with magnificent medieval frescoes. After the visit, we will take a boat ride to the springs of Lake Ohrid to enjoy this natural wonder.

Breakfast. We will set off for Tirana, the capital and largest city of the Republic of Albania. Our tour of central Tirana includes important monuments such as Skanderbeg Square, the Pyramid of Tirana, the Et'hem Bey Mosque, and the Clock Tower. Afterward, we will continue on to Shkodër. Accommodation.

Breakfast. We will travel to Kotor, in the Republic of Montenegro. Located at the head of a deep bay on the Adriatic coast, Kotor is a discovery for every visitor. The port of Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a true gem of medieval and Renaissance Venetian architecture. Here we will see the Venetian-era walls, the Church of St. Tryphon, the Church of St. Ozana of Kotor, and the narrow streets protected by ancient walls. After visiting Budva, on the Montenegrin coast, we will continue on to the historic city of Trebinje, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Optional free time to visit Dubrovnik, one of the most special cities in the Balkans. Afterward, departure for Medjugorje, another city in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Accommodation.

Optional excursion: Game of Thrones Day: Dubrovnik



On the optional tour of Dubrovnik, our journey takes us to this city famous for its ancient and medieval history. We will explore the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will see the ancient walls, Orlando's Column, the City Tower, the Rector's Palace, the Church of St. Blaise, and the Sponza Palace. After free time for dinner, the transfer to the hotel in Trebinje will take place.

Breakfast. Free day for personal activities or to take an optional excursion to Croatia to see the best areas of the Dalmatian coast, including the cities of Split and Trogir. Accommodation.

Optional excursion: The Beauty of Dalmatia: Split and Trogir

After crossing the Croatian border, our first stop will be the city of Split, included on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List since 1979. In antiquity, the Roman Emperor Diocletian was so fascinated by its beauty that, upon retiring, he settled there. Split is the second-largest city in Croatia and the largest in the Dalmatia region. During our tour we will see the old town with Diocletian's Palace, the Cathedral of St. Domnius, the Temple of Jupiter, and the Riva waterfront. We will then continue on to Trogir, a city in central Adriatic. Here we will also tour the old town to enjoy a beautiful blend of Renaissance, Baroque, and Romanesque artistic styles. We will see the Cathedral of St. Lawrence, the Cipiko Palace, the city museum building, and the Kamerlengo Tower. Return to the hotel in Medjugorje.

Breakfast. The journey will take us to one of the most famous bridges in Europe, the Old Bridge (Stari Most), in the city of Mostar, in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mostar is a historic city located in the valley of the Neretva River. The visit includes a tour of the old quarter (Stari Grad), with its market street, mosques, and traditional houses that blend foreign and native styles. We will see the remains of the Turkish quarter, the jewelers' bazaar, the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque, the Karagöz Bey Mosque, the Ottoman hammams, and the old houses (the most popular being the Muslibegović House). We will cross the legendary 16th-century stone bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will then continue on to Sarajevo, where we will take a walking tour of the historic old town. We will see the Turkish bazaar, the Gazi Husrev-Bey Mosque, the watchtower, the Latin Bridge, and the Sarajevo Cathedral. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Departure for Belgrade, the capital of the Republic of Serbia. Belgrade, whose name means "the white city," owes its name to the color of its medieval walls, which we will see during our walking tour. We will stroll along Knez Mihailova Street, the main pedestrian area, and see the University of Belgrade, the National Theatre, and the Orthodox Cathedral Church. We will then continue on to Kalemegdan Park and the Belgrade Fortress, with magnificent views over the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. Accommodation.

Optional excursion: Boat ride on the Danube River

We will take a boat ride along the Danube, one of the most important rivers in Europe, with panoramic views of Belgrade.

Breakfast. Vacate the room by the established check-out time. (You may store your luggage in the lobby and continue enjoying the city.) At the indicated time, departure transfer to Belgrade airport to board flight TK-1084 at 20:20 bound for Istanbul. Overnight on board.

Arrival in Istanbul at 00:10 hrs; we await the connecting flight to Panama at 08:05. Arrival at 17:10 hrs.